North Texas Curling Club Reports $20,000 Loss After Break-In

The DFW Curling Club in North Texas estimates its financial loss at approximately $20,000 following a break-in that occurred between Sunday evening and Monday morning. Brigette Minucci, the club president, stated that the theft occurred just one day after the facility’s grand opening celebration, leaving the organization scrambling to replace missing items before a USA Curling national event in a few weeks.

Surveillance footage indicates that suspected intruders arrived on the property roughly 30 minutes after staff departed around 6 p.m. on Sunday. Minucci told the Houston Chronicle that the individuals were present on the patio at 6:30 p.m. and accessed the main building at 8 p.m. The club’s website described the intrusion as a disturbing turn after a successful weekend, noting that the thieves spent several hours inside the facility.

According to the club, the intruders rummaged through drawers, consumed food, and drank beverages while searching for valuables. The most substantial financial impact came from the theft of tools from the back room, along with iPads, speakers, and athletic gear. Minucci believes the suspects left Sunday night but returned around 4:45 a.m. on Monday specifically to steal the tools.

The loss of operational equipment has paused the club’s final setup work for the upcoming tournament. Minucci noted that the stolen items included laptops and speakers necessary for daily operations. She described the situation as particularly difficult because the missing equipment belonged to individual members rather than the nonprofit entity itself.

Irving police are investigating the incident and have collected fingerprints and DNA evidence from the property. Minucci said the club is in constant contact with law enforcement and has provided clear video footage showing the faces of at least one suspect. Investigators are also reviewing attempts to cash stolen checks, which has yielded potential leads, though no formal suspects have been identified yet.

The club has asked the public to check resale platforms like Facebook Marketplace for suspicious tool listings, often marked with the word 'bling.' The nonprofit is currently compiling a final list of missing items to refine its loss estimate, which currently stands at $20,000.